Ornes, Bodo, Stamsund and Svolvaer

The fourth day of your Hurtigruten journey will not be one of lengthy stops.

Published 01.19.2016

The fourth day of your Hurtigruten journey will not be one of lengthy stops. Instead, the ship will pass through many municipalities and dock only briefly at a few ports. We will here review each place the ship will stop during the day: Ornes, Bodo, Stamsund and Svolvaer. Keep in mind that it is more than worth staying on the deck between stops, as you will have the chance to see beautiful Norwegian scenery - from villages and farms to pristine natural sights. On your fourth day of a Hurtigruten journey, you may even begin to recognize patterns in nature and architecture that you see from on board the ship.

Ornes

Ornes is a place that has been part of Norway's recorded history since 1610, and has been a trading post since 1794. Some buildings from around 1800 are still here despite several fires and other disasters, and these include homes, boathouses and barns. History buffs should keep an eye out. Though there is not too much time at Ornes, there are a few facts you should know about it. The first is that it is a travel hub for buses, ferries and boats, and that it hosts notable festivals. The first is "Summer Days," a week of cultural activities, and the second is "Revue Festival," which takes place every other year and showcases local theater and actors.

Bodo

Bodo is a small town founded in 1816 that used to be a center of area fishing activity. Now, Bodo is the second largest town in northern Norway. It also houses northern Norway's Defence Command and the Bodo Main Air Station, both of which are military locations. There are also the Nordland University and the National Norwegian Air Museum in terms of cultural institutions. If you're interested in the Middle Ages, Bodo houses the Bodin Church, built in 1240, extended in 1784 and were later restored. It is hypothesized that pre-Christian Norwegians ascribed particular significance to the current site of the church, as well. From Bodo, the ship will pass on to Stamsund, and you'll cross the boundary into the Vestvagoy municipality en route.

Stamsund

Stamsund is a small fishing village with a population that hovers around 1,000 people. It's at the foot of the mountain Steinstinden and was built directly into the mountainside. If nothing else, it's visually striking - so make sure to have your camera handy. Once upon a time, Stamsund was the home of one of Norway's largest dried cod exporters, which was the biggest employer in the region through the 1980s. Now, the fish-processing industry still rules the roost. It's not all fish, though - Stamsund has theaters, galleries and the Lofoten Art College too. There is also the Viking Museum at Borg, for those interested, which boasts reconstructed Viking dwellings and other buildings and artefacts. Leaving the port and crossing to the Vagan municipality, the ship now heads on to Svolvaer.

Svolvaer

Svolvaer is the municipal seat, also sometimes known as Lofoten's capital. It is the largest fishing community in the area, and has been an important trading post for about a century. It became a town only in 1996, but has a rich history from well before that time. Make sure to note the bustle of activity, as well as the beauty of the mountain Floyfjellet.